A spokesman for the Security Bureau said on February 15 that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is arranging chartered flight to take the Hong Kong residents under quarantine on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship back to Hong Kong free of charge soonest possible after they are permitted to disembark and land. Once the Japanese authorities have confirmed the detailed arrangements, the Government will inform the affected Hong Kong residents details of the return date and related arrangements as soon as possible.

     Taking into consideration the potential risk on public health, the persons concerned will be arranged to stay at quarantine centre for 14 days upon their arrival in Hong Kong. 

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) officers are concurrently notifying all of the concerned Hong Kong residents the above arrangements by text messages.

     The ImmD and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Tokyo have been maintaining close contact with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR, the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Japan, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, to keep abreast of the updated conditions of those Hong Kong residents under quarantine on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship docking in Yokohama, Japan. The HKSAR Government will continue to urge the Japanese side to confirm the detailed arrangements for the disembarkation of the passengers on board as soon as possible.

     According to the information provided by the cruise operator, there are around 330 Hong Kong residents on board, including 260 holding a HKSAR passport and around 70 holding a foreign passport.      

Ends/Sunday, February 16, 2020
Issued at HKT 0:48

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